NDA ally S Ramadoss of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday for his silence on the “rising intolerance” in the country. The statement comes in the the wake of murders of progressive writers like M M Kalburi and rationalist Govind Pansare and the lynching of a Muslim man at Dadri in Uttar Pradesh over rumours that he consumed beef.

Ramadoss alleged that unlike the previous NDA regime under Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Modi government does not take “corrective” steps.

“Atal Bihari Vajpayee took corrective stands to prevent oppression or religious violence. During Gujarat riots, he condemned it and even demanded the resignation of the then CM Modi,” he said.

He said Modi had failed in his duties by not condemning attacks by Hindutva forces on common people as well as intellectuals. He added that the government should feel ashamed that writers were returning their awards in a show of protest.